stretching the wheel base

[truckguy]

whats the easiest way to move the rear axle back? whats the furthest it can go with out going crazy? any help is appreciated. thanks

[country0001]

What are your desired results. Not much room on a b2 to stretch

[xkotyx]

do you plan on cutting out behind the wheel well?

[The_Dealer]

wagoneer springs (offset pin), ruffstuff perch kit(mighta been ballistic) with 3 centering holes if u dont want much, fsc leaves(64")or coil set up

i'd say it really depends on how much lift and what size tires u are running. but without cutting the fenders it will be useless. mostly coil'd rear guys would need an inch or two because of the way the control arms pull the axle towards the front of the fenderwell with high lift springs

[truckguy]

the reason i ask is because i plan on swapping a ranger cab and bed onto a bII frame, i would like to extend the wheel base so it doesnt look so stubby and i can cut less off the bed.

[The_Dealer]

im gonna do the same thing later on down the road...64" chevy springs, they have an offset pin, try to move them back as far as u can, then get the 3 centering pin hole spring perch for an additional 3" of movement...that should give you around 7" ext over stock rear

[country0001]

the reason i ask is because i plan on swapping a ranger cab and bed onto a bII frame, i would like to extend the wheel base so it doesnt look so stubby and i can cut less off the bed.

Go to the rbv's under construction area and look at some of the trucks that have done that already.

[BONES]

The stock BII/Explorer rear springs are offset center pin too, you could flip them around and get a longer wheelbase.

[truckguy]

what do you mean flip them around? and how much would it be moved back?

[NMB2]

this is 104" on a B2 with about 18" of frame chopped off the rear.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/804813/fullsize/img_8220.jpg

I run flipped Trailgear leafs on the rear, and right way on the front.

[BONES]

what do you mean flip them around? and how much would it be moved back?

Flip them around, as in swap the front bushing eye of the spring to the rear. make sense?

[truckguy]

bones that sounds pretty simple lol how much will it move it backwards about?

[Hahnsb2]

The big obstacle is gonna be the fuel tank...

[04sd]

the reason i ask is because i plan on swapping a ranger cab and bed onto a bII frame, i would like to extend the wheel base so it doesnt look so stubby and i can cut less off the bed.

This might be of some interest to you... **bed shortening** (http://rangerdave.freeforums.org/bed-shortening-t391.html)

[cammeddrz]

why hasn't anyone brought up the fuel-tank location, between the frame rails, and behind the axle........how much room is there before the fuel tank interferes?

[NMB2]

why hasn't anyone brought up the fuel-tank location, between the frame rails, and behind the axle........how much room is there before the fuel tank interferes?


because hes putting a pickup bed on it. Put the tank in the bed.

[The_Dealer]

because hes putting a pickup bed on it. Put the tank in the bed.

2 words...fuel cell

[NMB2]

2 words...fuel cell

do you have a fuel cell?

[The_Dealer]

nope, but when i ranger cab it and flat/tube bed it i will...maybe a propane tank if im lucky enough

[BONES]

The BII/Explorer rear springs are 25" on the front half and 31" on the rear half of the spring. 6" the diff will move back if you swap the springs around.

Like mentioned above, you could also use a fabbed and drilled leaf perch for even more wheel base. I have seen guys make their own perches that move the diff as far as 5-6" as well.

[The_Dealer]

not sure how i'd like a 5-6" extended perch. to me 3" is kinda pushing it, any farther seems like the perch will be too long and have too much leverage on it in the case of axlewrap might bend or break them

[spdcrazy]

the fuel tank will be in the way when the axle goes to full bump! however it also makes a difference how far back the axle is moved.

my wheelbase is 96in. i moved the axle back about 2in i think (correct me if i'm wrong) and so far i don't hit anything at full bump.

you can also drill (with a really sharp bit) your leaf to test your wheel base. but i would recommend then having a main leaf build with that center pin hole when your at your desired wheelbase.

[59bisquik]

I too am contemplating a wheelbase stretch. I was shooting for moving the rear back a little over 6" but am not sure about the body work yet. And obviously the fuel tank issue.

[spdcrazy]

I too am contemplating a wheelbase stretch. I was shooting for moving the rear back a little over 6" but am not sure about the body work yet. And obviously the fuel tank issue.

even with my 2 in or whatever, i started hitting the stock wheel wells on the back corner. nothing sawsall can't handle tho

[The_Dealer]

I too am contemplating a wheelbase stretch. I was shooting for moving the rear back a little over 6" but am not sure about the body work yet. And obviously the fuel tank issue.

is it illegal to put a fuel cell in an suv?

[spdcrazy]

suv

i thought our b2's were known as "station wagon's"

but the question still remains.

[4.0B2]

i thought our b2's were known as "station wagon's"

but the question still remains.

station wagon??? NO I REFUSE! :icon_rofl:

[59bisquik]

I dont think its illegal, but I couldnt say for sure. I am sure it depends on the state. However, I would fab something else up, I refuse to put it inside my rig and lose any cargo space. A friend of mine just built a buggy and built a custom fuel cell. The steel supply bent the major pieces for him and the bottom, front and rear is one piece of 1/4" with thinner sides and top. Fuel cell with a built in skid plate.
As for the body, I was thinking of cutting away some of the body, moving the axle back as far as I can and then getting some Ranger bedsides from the wrecking yard. That way I could keep the factory look of the sheet metal but move the entire fender back. Most people probably wouldnt even notice the stretch if they were not RBV folks.

[mhughes165]

lol they are classified as wagons, but then again so are aerostars lol, so when ur drivin ur b2 u might aswell be drivin a aerostar lol.....jkjk

it also depends how much lift he is looking for, if u go high enough and have a body lift u can raise the tank the 3" that the body lift would allow, and with a decent lift u wouldnt even have a dream of contacting the tank

[The_Dealer]

don forget u will need a longer rear shaft...and no im not calling my b2 a wagon...thats just rediculous:icon_confused:

[mhughes165]

don forget u will need a longer rear shaft...and no im not calling my b2 a wagon...thats just rediculous:icon_confused:

lol.....too bad ur registration and insurance will say otherwise lol

[The_Dealer]

lol.....too bad ur registration and insurance will say otherwise lol

mine says farm equipment...:thefinger:

[spdcrazy]

wagons can be on farms!

[The_Dealer]

haha i checked my registration it sait m/p(guess multi-purpose) farm equipment

[mhughes165]

haha i checked my registration it sait m/p(guess multi-purpose) farm equipment

thats only because it probably shouldnt be registered that way LOL....cause we ALL know u drove that thing WAYYYYYYY further then u can in any state with farmer tags on it lol

[BONES]

Here fuel cells aren't legal inside the passenger compartment. You would need to build a sealed compartment and vent it outside the vehicle for it to be legal inside the cab.

I was thinking about this too, I figured I would raise the tank and the rear cargo floor line a few inches. Was thinking having the bottom of the tank a couple inches above the bottom of the rear frame. I haven't actually measured if the tank can fit up higher without cutting into some of the body supports yet tho. I bet a similarly sized fuel cell could fit up between the bottom of the body and sit above the bottom of the frame....maybe?

The 2 cross members that the top of the tank sits against would need to be moved or redone too. Then basically tub the rear wheel wells rearward.

[NMB2]

my registration says SUV

[The Jester Race]

You could stick a side mounted tank from a ranger in it. You should have the room if you get the axle back 6". Thats my plan if I stretch the rear on mine. You can always move the front forward too, theres nothing in the way up front. If you change from leafs to a four link setup you can move the axle back 30", without modifying the frame, more if you wanted to extend the frame out.

Mine. Front stretched 6".
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/145/l_c58d9498485c4803a548f67c65b215b6.jpg

-Jester

[D'cheat]

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_bikini%20car%20wash%20045.jpg


Yup. Here is what you need :beer:

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=14&products_id=453

[4x4junkie]

Mine is stretched 3" rear (the front is also pushed 1" forward)

I did it by simply moving the leaf hangers back on the frame. Fenders are cut more at the rear than the front to match up with it

old pic before putting the flares on:
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/6/web/702000-702999/702959_8_full.jpg